Number 17!

I felt a little bad that after going all out for Kaya's birthday party, Taylor's seemed more of an afterthought.  Partly that was because, once again, he was gone for his actual birthday.  This year he went on a Boy Scouts High Adventure camp to Kentucky.  They canoed 50 miles and then got to explore a cave the old fashioned way--with headlamps and on all fours for much of the time.  He loved his experience and came back with lots of adventures to share.  

All of Kaya's decorations were still in place from the week before, so we thought it would be funny if, instead of redecorating, we just recycled everything--including the birthday sign and the pink streamers.  

Kendall decided to make the cake this year and had fun creating a Doctor Who Tardis design.  In fact, Doctor Who was a big overall theme.  Everyone knows what Taylor loves best.

Lynnsey's poem to Taylor says: "Fezzes are Red, the Tardis is Blue, Bowties are cool and so are you!!!"

There has been some talk around here since the big announcement that boys could go on missions at 18 instead of 19.  It doesn't seem possible, but just in case, we thought Taylor could learn something this year to help prepare...

Aside from Doctor Who, one of Taylor's favorite TV shows is Psych.  Spencer had overheard him one day talking about looking for the pineapple in an episode and he came to me and said: "I know what I'm getting Taylor for his birthday!"

And back to Doctor Who again...this was a fun shirt with quotes from episodes making up a DW Tardis.

Thanks to Nana for the best towel ever!

As usual I'm struggling to reconcile this great big high school senior with the little chunky monkey that I know I just had.  Our older nieces have been posting photos on Facebook recently of their adorable little babies and it is killing me to think how fast it all goes.  In a blink, their babies will be high school seniors too and I'll be dead.  No. Just kidding.  Probably.  I'm just saying that it is crazy how quickly they really do grow up.  I remember MY senior year of high school for crying out loud!  How is this even possible???  But if I have to have a great big teenager, I'm thankful to have one who is such a good kid who makes good choices in his life.  I had a mom tell me the other day that she is really thankful that Taylor is doing cross country this year because he is such a great influence on her son and the other boys who are on the team as well.  I know whether he decides to head out on a mission immediately or to get in a year of college first, Taylor will do well at whatever he does.  We are so thankful to have him in our family.  (Even Kendall who is counting down the minutes until he can take over Taylor's bedroom...)